Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Satnam on 12/07/2004 13:00:41
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HELP!!
Hi (My email is sat@maximus-it.com)
My name's Sat, live in London and I'm 30 yrs old. I've had lower back pain for about 1.5yrs now and at my age its greatly concerning me. It's constant pain and this varies from bearable to strong discomfort preventing normal life. I've had an MRI scan and apparently one of my lower disks is degenerated. Surgery is not an avenue I'd like to go down nor has it been recommended as I don't think I'm at that stage in terms of pain, but I'm conscious if I don't do something about it now, I will have no option. Is there anything which can help me non surgically or effective exercise regimes etc. I've read about VAX-D (Verterbal Axial Therapy) which is not surgical and creates a vacuum relieiving pain etc.. It sounds effective and is relatively new. I'm pretty active otherwise and I have no problem paying for physical instructors etc.. Any proven advice/treatments would be really appreciated as being a fellow sufferer I'm sure you know how it starts to take over your life?
Many thanks
Satnam - (sat@maximus-it.com)
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Hi Sat
sorry to hear about your back trouble. You'll appreciate that it is very difficult (and dangerous) to offer diagnoses without seeing or examining a patient, or access to the imaging results.
Back pain is extremely common - the lifetime incidence of back problems is over 80% in the west - with a yearly incidence for each person of about 5%. Back pain also accounts for around 15% of presentations to primary care doctors each year.
Fortunately, for most people, the problem is self-limiting and resolves spontaneously within 1 week 40-50% of the time, and within 12 weeks in 90% of cases.
Degenerate discs are a common cause of back pain in young to middle aged adults (peak incidence age 40), but a degenerate disc is not always painful and therefore may not necessarily be causing your symptoms.
However, I presume that, given you have undergone imaging studies, someone must be investigating your back pain or at least offering you management advice.
Here's a link which provides a very comprehensive overview of the problem of lower back pain, including discogenic back pain, and the possible management options :
http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic67.htm
http://www.emedicine.com/sports/byname/lumbosacral-disc-injuries.htm
"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
- Groucho Marx
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Hi all,
I've been suffering from arthritis in my lower back for years now. I've tried various pain relivers, exercises and even acupuncture and nothing has worked at all.
After numerous trips to the doctor, he finally suggested I try a Baxolve (http://www.neurotech.co.uk/baxolve_home.php). I didnt know what it was, so after a bit of research I discovered it was a tens machine that uses electical pulses to numb pain. I was sceptial at first but after trying it the first time, i couldnt believe how good it was.
I just thought i'd spread the word and stop others suffering like I did.
Darren
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Hi Dazb2004,
Is this like the machine I've seen Lloyds chemists advertising on TV ?
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It's probably worth mentioning that Baxolve is not something that is tried and tested by the owners/mods of this site and TNS is not affiliated with it in anyway shape or form.
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It's probably also worth mentioning that you google Inclined Bed Therapy, because this will deliver the results you are looking for !
No drugs, no costs, safe gentle traction, increased circulation and rehydration of the affected area.
Call me on *******17 if you need to hear this from the horses mouth.
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Andrew, I've edited out your phone number cos every psycho on the planet will call you !!...hope you don't mind but I felt it prudent to edit it.
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Is this like the machine I've seen Lloyds chemists advertising on TV ?
Hi neilep
No the Baxolve is actually really nothing like the Lloyds chemist Tens unit.
The Baxolve is a Lumbar support belt giving your lower back immediate support with the added benefit of Tens. So i guess it's essentially '2 for the price of one'. You get the great support from the belt and the pain relief from the TENS.
I found it to be great and have recommended to another friend who is finding their lower back to be a bit sore due to sitting at a desk all day. The TENS technology behind it is actually clinically proven to help reduce and eliminate pain....I looked into this product before i used it and wouldn't have gone with it had it not been impressively backed up.
As far a i can tell the Lloyds product is just a hand-held tens machine that doesn't have the huge advantage of Lumbar support.
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I have recurring back problems and unable to sit or stand for a long period of time. Recently I been using Iceberg Pain Relieving Gel. The product works really well.
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My wife has a lower back whiplash injury which has resulted in degenerated disks and a weakness in her sacroiliac joint (Where the spine meets the pelvis). She has founbd that Pilates, (or tai chi or some yoga styles) has helped to build up core muscle strength and improve posture which has reduced episodes of acute back pain. She also recomends theraputic massage to keep on alleviate muscles going into spasm, pulling joints out of alingment thus causing pain.
The other thing to look at (particularly if you sit at a desk all day) is your posture and the arrangment of your work space. If you twist around a lot or cross your legs it can affect your back. In the UK the Health and Safety Executive have published the following advice...http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf (http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf)
If your work requires you to lift things (even relatively modest weights) make sure you have been adequatley trained in doing so and that you follow the training (back straight, knees bent etc.)